The Note: February Sanity

March 16, 2007

Page 5 of 8

Politico's Roger Simon reports that a few reporters who were on the bus with Sen. McCain in 2000 showed up this time: "Jake Tapper, now of ABC News; John Dickerson, now of Slate; Jill Zuckman, now of the Chicago Tribune, and me." LINK

"'And where were you in 2000?' I mockingly asked Liz Sidoti of the Associated Press."

"'In high school,' she said."

"Ouch."

As Sen. McCain's Straight Talk Express wheels into New Hampshire, Kevin Landrigan of the Nashua Telegraph explores the Senator's change from an "insurgent assault" in 2000 to his current position as "vulnerable top dog." LINK

Most people know the post-9/11 Rudy, but Human Events contributor Deroy Murdock seeks to highlight the accomplishments of pre-9/11 Rudy during his service as Mayor. LINK

The New York Post's Haberman takes a look at a new anti-Giuliani website, www.rudysreallyliberal.com. LINK

Page Six of the New York Post writes up what many saw as Judith Giuliani's less than stellar appearance at Wednesday's big Gotham fundraiser for her husband. LINK

2008: Republicans: Romney:

Scott Helman of the Boston Globe, reporting on Gov. Romney's "swoop" into Sen. McCain's home turf, compares the governor's sharp turn against Sen. McCain's positions on immigration, which in 2005 he described as "reasonable proposals." LINK

Gov. Romney pushes his economic record in Massachusetts to the forefront, including in his first commercial which calls him "the Republican governor who turned around a Democratic state." The New York Times on how it will play in his campaign: LINK

New Hampshire professor and veteran Michael Moffett, who supported John McCain in 2000, writes a well-placed and well-times New Hampshire Union Leader op-ed explaining why he has switched his allegiance to Mitt Romney this cycle. LINK

The Fresno Bee's John Ellis reports on Gov. Romney's swing through California's San Joaquin Valley, where he was described by one resident as "fabulous." LINK

Lee Davidson of the Deseret Morning News reports on talk show host Hugh Hewitt's coming book, "A Mormon in the White House? 10 Things Every American Should Know about Mitt Romney." Said Hewitt, "if Romney can be bled via an assault on the rationality of his faith, the next candidate of firm religious view can expect more of the same." LINK

2008: Republicans: T. Thompson:

Eating DiStaso's dust, James Pindell of the Boston Globe reports that Gov. Thompson has hired New Hampshire-based consulting firm Meridian Communications to start his state organization. LINK

2008: Republicans: Brownback:

ABC News' Jake Whitman writes about Brownback's letter to President Bush where he sided with Chairman Peter Pace and his comments regarding the "immorality" of homosexuality. LINK

2008: Republicans: Hagel:

The Washington Post's William Arkin offers his "dream" that Sen. Hagel will be the next president of the United States. LINK

2008: Democrats:

The AP's Beth Fouhy reports on Sen. Clinton's coming "test of strength" as fundraising report deadlines approach, and the major Democratic candidates try to "outfox one another in the expectations game." LINK